Chapter 27: Her Name

The investigation continued on for a week.

As expected, the investigators used one of their main leads, the ash horned skunk gland. Unfortunately, there were too many hunters who bought the gland or liquid extract from the gland and there was no way to track all of them.

The Mirth academy was located a little distance away from Mirth city, and it encompassed several mountains. Outside Mirth academy was a very large forest that hunters often visit. Many people who wanted go to the forest or pass through it usually stopped by the academy for supplies. It was also relatively cheaper to buy supplies in the academy as they were originally priced for students.

Finding out who bought an ash horned skunk's gland or an extracted fluid was difficult, but the investigators eventually found a few names through the Emerald Pavilion's information network. They also found out that a student within the elementalist class had recently obtained it.

This student was Windle. He was a member of the Emerald Pavilion, but the Emerald Pavilion wasn't only a student faction within the academy; it was also business partner of the academy, so finding out such a purchase was easily known by the Emerald Pavilion. A junior member who just recently joined the faction did not have much leverage within the faction, and thus the Emerald Pavilion did not keep it secret.

Although such a connection was found, the investigators did not think much about it. They found no motive for him to do this. He also had a good relationship with Teo, and arrived late at the scene. Either way, Windle was continuously questioned by the investigators but also feigned ignorance.

...

Windle was in a room being interrogated by an investigators

"We have reports saying that a few weeks ago, you purchased an ash horned skunk's gland, is this true?"

Windle couldn't deny it so he answer "Yes I did"

"Do you know what does this item do?"

"No I don't"

"Then why did you purchase such an item?"

"A hunter offered me a good deal to buy it for him. He told me if I buy it for him, he would give be 3% cut"

This "hunter" would have gotten 7% discount if the deal was done. This explanation was plausible, so the investigator asked him details of this hunter

Windle was answering the questions without hesitation. He had already thought of various questions that could be asked by the investigator and prepared a well written story.

Windle's excuse for purchasing it was that a hunter asked him to buy it for him using an "employee discount". Employee discounts usually are reserved for employees. It was a 10% discount but was strictly for employee's use only. They were disallowed to use it for family and friends since they had a separate discount for them.

Although this practice was frowned upon by the Emerald Pavilion, many members did this in secret. It was like an open secret within the faction.

When the Emerald Pavilion heard his excuse, he was punished and certain privileges was restricted and his employee discount would be removed for 3 months. Even though it was an open secret, he shouldn't have revealed this 'deal'

As for the second clue, they could not figure out what that burnt mark was. The burnt area was so small but it produced such a large amount of smoke. None of the investigators have seen this kind of event before so this clue did not help at all

...

The investigation concluded as an outsider's prank. The incident was mischievous but it was not deadly.

It was clear that it did the person responsible did not intend to cause any permanent harm, but to the academy, it was a slap to their face.

The academy requested that all merchants residing within the academy to keep track of certain purchases. An outside also had to now identify themselves when purchasing within the academy. This increase in security was the academy's only response to the incident. It was to prevent future incidents like these from happening again.

...

After the investigation ended, 3 figures were talking within a cave.

"We must move Emily now"

"But our orders were to stay, we can't right now. I have already sent a request so they can allow us to move"

"Those incompetent investigators, they couldn't even find who was responsible. Don't worry Emily, I will keep a closer watch from now on"

A blonde girl within the group nodded. This blonde girl was the same blonde girl from the medical center. She was the one that was accidentally caught within the incident.

She looked totally different, her hair no longer messy, but was instead well styled. Her curly locks bounced up from her nodding. Her complexion was fair, and her blue eyes looked very gentle.

If the class saw her, they wouldn't recognize her as well. She usually wore a hood over her head and kept her head low.

No one else in class besides Dina paid any attention to her but if they saw her now, they would be stunned by her beautiful face.

Although her face was seen by many others within the medical center, it was covered in soot and dirt so they could not clearly see her face.

She finally recovered from the ordeal that she had experience, but the man in front of her wouldn't relax at all.

"Don't worry big brother Will, I am fine now"

"Master William, please do not worry. We should have a reply arriving within a few days. I have also informed the Rizon faction of our predicament. We shall stay within their protection until we get further instructions from the Lord"

.....

Teo, Windle and Lia were also in a cave. This cave was Windle's cave.

Unlike Teo's cave which didn't differ much from when he moved in, Windle cave was well furnished. A soft carpet was laid on the center of the room. It had 2 large comfortable couches, a few paintings on the wall. It was well decorated as if it was a place of a rich noble.

Apparently, working at the Emerald Pavilion was very profitable, especially if one had the people skills to rake in customers.

"Are you sure they've stopped investigating?" Teo asked

"Yup, I heard it from my cousin. Luckily, you didn't leave much clues. But you seriously owe me for this" Windle said

"Alright, alright" Teo said

"You will do my homework for a whole year" Windle demanded

"Windle, if you don't do your homework how can you pass Ms Dina's tests?" Lia asked

"Don't worry about that, I have some ways" Windle smiled

Teo did not argue with Windle's demand, Teo was lucky enough not to get caught and he didn't dislike doing homework.

"I heard class is resuming soon" Teo said. He wanted to apologize to the blonde girl, but didn't want to get exposed. The only way to make it up to her was to become friends with her.

"Yeah, I'm gonna miss these days without classes" Windle said

"You guys are too lucky, maybe I should do something too to skip my classes" Lia joked

"Windle, do you remember that girl's name? The one in the medical center" Teo asked

"A girl?" Lia was also curious

"Hm? Teo how can it be that you can easily remember the class' material but can't remember your classmates names and faces?" Windle joked

"If I remember correctly, her name was Emily, Emily Avi"

"Thanks Windle" Teo said